Binghamton Distracted Driving Accidents Attorney

Distracted driving crashes happen far too often in Binghamton and across New York’s Southern Tier, leaving victims with painful injuries, medical expenses, and the stress of an uncertain future. These collisions should never happen, yet many drivers still choose quick convenience over the safety of everyone around them.

If you or someone you love is dealing with the fallout of a distracted driver, Scott C. Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney can guide you forward. Let our Binghamton distracted driving accidents attorney handle your claim while you concentrate on healing and getting your life back on steady ground.

How Our Experienced Binghamton Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Can Help You

When you choose Scott C. Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney to represent you after a distracted driving crash, you gain an advocate who will stand up to insurance companies and fight tirelessly for maximum compensation. Since 1980, our firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients injured in car accidents throughout Binghamton, NY, and surrounding areas. Our firm focuses exclusively on representing personal injury victims, never insurance companies or large corporations.

Our distracted driving attorney handles all aspects of your claim, including:

• Thorough investigation of your accident – We gather critical evidence, including cell phone records, witness statements, police reports, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction analysis, to build a strong case proving the at-fault driver’s negligence.
• Coordination with medical providers – Simply let us know when you have a doctor’s appointment related to your injury, and we will follow up with the office to obtain medical reports and documentation to support your claim.
• Comprehensive claim management – We handle not only your personal injury claim but also related matters, such as property damage and no-fault benefits claims.
• Access to leading experts – Our firm works with medical experts, accident reconstructionists, investigators, photographers, and financial consultants who can provide testimony and analysis to strengthen your case.
• Aggressive negotiation with insurers – Insurance companies have vast resources and deal with claims every day. We level the playing field by advocating assertively for your rights and refusing to accept lowball settlement offers.

We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no legal fees unless and until we recover compensation for you. We are available to discuss your case and answer questions, so contact us today for a free consultation.

What Constitutes Distracted Driving in New York?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in any activity that diverts attention from the primary task of operating a vehicle safely. It recognizes three main categories of distraction: visual distractions that cause drivers to take their eyes off the road, manual distractions that require drivers to remove their hands from the steering wheel, and cognitive distractions that take a driver’s focus away from driving.

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1225-d prohibits drivers from using portable electronic devices while operating a vehicle. This includes using a cell phone to talk, text, email, browse the internet, play games, or view images. The law also prohibits drivers under 18 from using any electronic device, including hands-free options.

Distracted driving is a dangerous behavior. Our personal injury attorney and legal team are committed to helping you pursue justice when someone’s careless decision injures you.

Statistics on Distracted Driving in Binghamton & New York

The scope of the distracted driving problem in New York is alarming. According to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the state saw a 918 percent jump in tickets issued for texting while driving within a recent five-year period. The University at Albany’s Institute of Traffic Safety Management and Research reports that 116 people were killed in fatal accidents in 2023 caused by distracted driving. Cell phone use was associated with 428 auto accidents in 2023.

National numbers reflect the same troubling trend involving distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that driver inattention is a leading factor in crashes and near-crashes. Glancing away for two seconds doubles the risk of a crash, according to General Motors. Sending a text can take a driver’s eyes off the road for up to five seconds, according to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. At 55 miles per hour, that is the equivalent of traveling the length of a football field without seeing what is ahead.

In 2023, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives nationwide, according to the NHTSA. The CDC reports that a higher percentage of drivers aged 15-20 were distracted in fatal traffic crashes. In Binghamton and the wider Southern Tier, distracted driving accidents occur on major routes, including Interstate 81, Route 17, State Route 434, and busy local roads throughout Broome County.

Types of Distracted Drivers You Might Encounter

Distracted driving affects all categories of motorists, but certain groups pose heightened risks. Teen drivers are more likely to engage in distracted driving, as they have grown up with smartphones and may not fully appreciate the dangers of driving while using them. Commercial truck drivers who spend long hours on the road may be tempted to use phones or eat meals while driving. Given the size and weight of commercial trucks, distracted truck drivers can cause catastrophic accidents and serious injuries.

Rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft rely heavily on smartphone apps to receive ride requests and navigate to destinations. This creates constant visual, manual, and cognitive distractions that increase accident risk. Delivery drivers face similar pressures, constantly checking devices for route information while trying to meet tight schedules.

Any driver who chooses to engage in distracted behavior becomes a hazard to others. When their negligence causes an accident, victims have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.

Proving Negligence in Distracted Driving Cases

To recover compensation in a distracted driving case, your car accident attorney for distracted driving must show that the at-fault driver acted negligently. This involves proving that every driver owes a duty of care, that the at-fault driver breached that duty by engaging in distracting behavior, that the distraction directly caused the crash and your injuries, and that you suffered real damages.

Proving distraction is not always simple because drivers rarely admit they were not paying attention. Your distracted driving accident lawyer will collect several types of evidence to build a strong claim. Phone records can show calls, texts, or data use at the time of the collision, and your attorney can obtain them through legal requests. Eyewitnesses may have seen the driver looking at a phone or engaged in other unsafe activity. Police reports often contain helpful observations. Traffic cameras, business surveillance, and vehicle event data recorders can also reveal driver inattention.

Legal help for distracted driving crashes can put these pieces together to show how negligence caused your injuries and support your claim for fair compensation for your damages, such as:

• Medical bills
• Ongoing medical treatment, including rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Future medical expenses
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Lost enjoyment of life

In New York, you will turn first to your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance for coverage. However, if the distracted driving car accident caused you to suffer severe injuries, you may be able to seek compensation from the distracted driver. Personal injury lawyers help hold negligent parties accountable.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today

If a distracted driver has caused you harm, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. Scott C. Gottlieb, Injury Law Attorney, a Binghamton distracted driving accidents attorney, provides compassionate representation to accident victims throughout Binghamton and the surrounding area. We offer a free consultation to review your claim and explain your legal options. Contact us today at (607) 724-7700.